Triathlon - pedals for Tri

Hi, I'm building up a QR Kilo for Sprint/Olympic/1/2IM and eventually IM(I hope) and need some advice on pedals. I have Shimano M505's on my OCR2 which seem fine but I'm not sure how good SPD is for longer distance... any recommendations? I've looked at the SPD-R and also LOOK and TIME pedals but am basically clueless. Right now I don't have any pain when using SPD but don't know if I'm missing something... Because I have the M505's on the Giant I would prefer to stick with them on the QR so I can use the same shoes etc... might make life easier when I switch back and forth.
Thanks.

i would say speed play, but they are expensive. Use what you are used to. I like look just cus to replace cleats it is super cheap.

Speedplay pedals are excellent if you have perfect biomechanics. Look are a better choice for riders with minor biomechnical issues (most of us) because of the larger platform and reduced float. Ken

Thanks, I'm thinking of getting the LOOK 3.1's which get good reviews and seem to fit my need. I think I'll bite the bullet and put them on both bikes, the SPD is kinda small and creates hotfoot among other things. I picked up a pair of Specialized Road Comp shoes 1/2 price at my LBS and I think this will be a good combo.

I've been running DuraAce pedals on long rides and they seem to fit fine. They are not the lightest and are quite large. I just did a sprint tri and running on the cleats was OK. LOOK seems to be very popular with the tri crowd.

I have SPD-R.
Very similar to look.
I like the large platforms.
The cleats are ok to run in.
I also have Specialized Road Comp shoes. I really like them.

What do you mean by running on the the cleats? Getting in and out of the transition area, right?

I've been running DuraAce pedals on long rides and they seem to fit fine. They are not the lightest and are quite large. I just did a sprint tri and running on the cleats was OK. LOOK seems to be very popular with the tri crowd.

Avoid this dangerous and altogether time waster and money wasting habit by learnign to mount and dismout your bike with the shoes already clipped in(ie. get on your bike, then put on your shoes)

Think about it, chances are alot of people have metal in thier cleats, well metal slides really well on pavment, and running on your cleats on pavement is.......deangerous cus you have a good chance at bailing, plus it destroys your cleats(anyone in speedplays should know it costs 60-80$CDN to replace cleats)

Crap...running in cleats? That doesn't sound like a good idea. Not to mention the shoe itself would be rather stiff to run in. I suppose whatever works though. I personally really like the speedplays. I recently switched from spd's and never looked back. I love them.

I use Look-style, but I've never tried anything else so I don't have any comparisons. I'm happy with them, though. Someday I'll try strapping the shoes in first, but in the meantime, trotting in and out of transition was fine.

[QUOTE=Landa] I just did a sprint tri and running on the cleats was OK. [QUOTE]

I had a picture of you in my head running a 5k in your cycling shoes. LOL

Tough crowd! Would you just get into your shoes after running on asphalt for 50 yards without cleaning your feet first?

Curious as to why a person would need almost perfect biomechanics to use speedplay...I thought they were the ones that are good for people w/ knee problems..etc..b/c they have lots of 'float'?

I've been eyeing the speedplay zeros...and I have a knee 'problem' (not from cycling..and not aggrivated by riding).

Interested in your thoughts.....

thanks..

enh, i have cheap! 2-sided spds from the bargain bin at the lbs, and my spd cleats are fine for transition running, and not wearing out anytime soon. maybe i leave sparks for the people behind me, but i don't think so. many of the races have grass/dirt on the way in and out.

Curious as to why a person would need almost perfect biomechanics to use speedplay...I thought they were the ones that are good for people w/ knee problems..etc..b/c they have lots of 'float'?

I've been eyeing the speedplay zeros...and I have a knee 'problem' (not from cycling..and not aggrivated by riding).

Interested in your thoughts.....

thanks..



There are 2 schools of though on speedplays.

One being that due to the free float(or adjustable on the Zero series) you will be in the perfect position for your knees, thus it is a knee saving system.

Two being that due to the free/adjustable float you can float to the wrong position and hurt your knees.

I have speed play on both my TT/tri and road bike, and I wouldnt have it any other way. I love them, and have never had a problem with them. That being said I think most of the peopel that complain about them, have bad knee troubles to start, and very little control over there leg position. If you knee hurts while riding in speedplays, make small changes to how you foot is positioned. It could also have alot to do with how the cleat is attached to the shoe, thus making it not the pedals fault.


Also, learning to mount dismount with shoes still on bike, was the best thing for me, dropped my transition times by like 30-40 seconds, plus try running in speedplay cleats, you'll know why i think running in cleats is dangerous.

And to the dirty feet comment, even the tri I did in the rain a few weeks ago, all it took was one quick wipe per foot to have the feet clean. So that is like an extra 2-3 seconds per foot.

3+3=6second loss to wiping feet
40 second gain to to shoe on bike thing

I think that a 34 second gain is still pretty sweet. PLus it makes mee look like I am faste then I am by keeping my shoes there.

I plan on learning to put on my shoes while they are clipped in this winter while on the trainer.

Any advice on how you learn to do that?

I use Speedplays for everything and have no problems

Thanks for the input...helps confirm that Im going to try the zeros.

I plan on learning to put on my shoes while they are clipped in this winter while on the trainer.

Any advice on how you learn to do that?


The biggest thing is being able to lean down and do them up while staying both upright, and straight. Ya, I would say get comfortable donig it on the trainer first. Before you do it in a race, make sure you are really comfortable doing it first. Get lots of practice before hand. Make sure you can do the dismount properly, the first time I did it when I was standing on the one shoe coming up to the dismount line, my shoe unclipped and I fell. Kinda embarasing. Now I dismount diferently(bring my leg up over the top tube, as apposed to swing around behind the saddle).

JUst to reiterate.....PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

Actually I'm starting to rethink the whole thing. I just did 25.5 miles this AM with the Shimano M505 spd's and I really had no problems with hotfoot or anything and they felt really good so I might stick with that system for a while. I imagine that with Look's or Speedplays I might get a slightly better time but I'm not sure that's enough inducement right now for me to have to spend the money. I can pick up another set of M505's off ebay for around $35 for the QR Kilo and seeing that I have both pairs of shoes and the OCR2 already setup I think that's my course for now...
Anyone know how much time I'll save by going from SPD's to LOOK 3.1's or even SPEEDPLAY's? I need to justify it because it's starting to get out of hand with all the upgrades, once you start it's tough to draw the line...
Also do you all forego socks for the bike AND the run, I'm putting socks on for the bike and maybe I should try without... I can't imagine running without socks tho'

once you start it's tough to draw the line...
Also do you all forego socks for the bike AND the run, I'm putting socks on for the bike and maybe I should try without... I can't imagine running without socks tho'


The line doesnt exist for me, upgrading is just part of my life.....

I dont use socks at all(for anything less then Olympic I cant justify the extra time to put on socks). For time saved with a different pedal system, I dont think there is any difference. Things you want to look at is better bearings in a better pedal(less pedal resistance, so less effort per pedal stroke). If you are putting on your bike shoes in the transition area, it really wont make a difference.

Also do you all forego socks for the bike AND the run, I'm putting socks on for the bike and maybe I should try without... I can't imagine running without socks tho'

ok, you might want to click on over to my 1/2 IM race report for info on the longer running distances and socks. (to summarize: WEAR THEM).

with the residual blisters from a half marathon without 'em, i was perfectly happy to take the extra .2 seconds to put some socks on for my sprint tri run this w/e. after the above experience, i wasn't taking chances, though i think i could make it through almost 4 miles without socks in these particular shoes. try going for a test sockless run before the race if you're worried.

my bike shoes are plenty comfy without.